Brandon’s Ag Ex is on the comeback trail after weathering COVID-19, judging by the number of cattle drawn to the Keystone Centre grounds in late October.
Mark Humphries, general manager with the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, said cattle show entries were more than double those of 2021. About 430 cattle took to the ring Oct. 26-29, compared to 180 in 2021.
“Obviously, the spectators were a lot higher,” Humphries said.
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Why it matters: Ag Ex, typically held in October and with a strong focus on livestock, is one of three major ag fairs put on annually by the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.
Last year’s Ag Ex was the first large in-person event hosted by the exhibition since the start of the pandemic. The fair in late October 2021 landed during an interlude of loosened COVID-19 restrictions. Large gatherings were once again allowed, although mask use was enforced and attendees were required to provide proof of vaccination before entering.
At the time, organizers noted cattle show entries were about 100 head lower than normal, and the schedule did not include a rodeo or national cattle breed show.
Rodeo was still off the agenda this year but a slate of new sheep-related events made their debut.
This was the first time the exhibition has collaborated with the Manitoba Sheep Association, Humphries said. About 50 market lambs took part in the commercial sheep show, preluded by “EweMania,” an ag education outreach program connecting urban school kids with sheep production.
The outreach was a sheep-centric counterpart to “MooMania,” which highlights the cattle sector. It also returned in 2022.
The ag education component was successful, Humphries said, adding that the exhibition hopes to expand “EweMania” in 2023.
Future Ag Ex attendees might expect more sheep-related content in general, he said. While sheep shows were isolated to commercial animals this year, there has been talk of breed shows, junior shows and perhaps a sale for next year.
“It went down really well with everybody concerned. The barn was buzzing with excitement all week and interest, so it was a great thing for us. It was a great partnership,” Humphries said.
There is also hope for a return of national cattle breed shows in 2023, although he said that conversation is in its early days.
Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of Ag Ex, which could draw participation by national breed associations.
